Gastric electrical stimulation modulates hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor–producing neurons during post-operative ileus in rat

• Published in: Neuroscience 2007-09, Vol.148 (3), p.775-781
• Main Authors: Gourcerol, G, Gallas, S, Mounien, L, Leblanc, I, Bizet, P, Boutelet, I, Leroi, A.M, Ducrotte, P, Vaudry, H, Jegou, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; AVP; c-Fos; Cell Count; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - genetics; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - secretion; CRF; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation - physiology; Electric Stimulation Therapy; gastric electrical stimulation; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - cytology; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - secretion; Immunohistochemistry; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction - metabolism; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction - physiopathology; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction - therapy; Male; Neurology; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - metabolism; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - secretion; paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus; post-operative ileus; Postoperative Complications - metabolism; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Postoperative Complications - therapy; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Stomach - innervation; Stomach - physiopathology; Vagotomy
• ISSN: 0306-4522; 1873-7544
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.07.001

Abstract High-frequency/low-energy gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is an efficient therapy to treat gastric emptying–related disorders but its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. We aimed to assess the effects of high-frequency/low-energy GES on corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)–producing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), which are involved in gastric ileus induced by laparotomy. Two electrodes were implanted in the rat gastric antrum during laparotomy, then stimulation (amplitude: 2 mA; pulse duration 330 μs; frequency: 2 Hz; 1 min ON/2 min OFF) or sham stimulation (control group) were applied. Using immunohistochemistry, the number of c-Fos protein-expressing neurons (c-Fos protein-immunoreactive cells, Fos-IR) was quantified in the PVN after 1 h of stimulation. The number of neurons expressing simultaneously c-Fos protein and CRF mRNA was measured by means of immunocytochemistry combined with in situ hybridization. Finally, c-Fos and CRF mRNA levels in the hypothalamus were determined by in situ hybridization or quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. Fos-IR in the PVN was significantly decreased 1 h after GES ( P